Day three of the World Amateur Team Championship in Parsippany, New Jersey, focuses on the on-board fight. Gone are the elaborate costumes and other performance gear. The dozen or so teams in contention for the top prize stay deep in their chess zones, some plugged into MP3 earphones, some with thumbs over their ears, but all with a steely resolve. The hundred or so teams in the hunt for a category prize are likewise determined to show their chess true-grit. And the many players trying to secure that badge of special team-merit, the best board plaque—as well as every player who simple wants to improve his or her 2011 record—all settle in for the final tense two rounds.

In the end, it was “West Orange Krush,” with IM Mikhail Zlotnikov (see left) on board one, securing the high honor of first place. “Board? Lonely Knight?” (led by Raven Stuart) was second, and “Virginia Assassins (led by Daniel Miller)” finished third.

Best-board scores are one of the most respected honors at the World Amateur Team. This year four scored a super-heroic 6-0 on board one: GM Robert Hess, Steadroy Lloyd, Mackenzie Molner, and David Vigorito. A trio was perfect on board two: Derrick Higgins, GM Magesh Panchanathan, and New York Times columnist FM Dylan McClain. (Yes, he can indeed play!)

Four blanked their opponents from the board-three spot: Jeff Kelleher, Eric Most, Andrew Ng, and David Shekhtman. And one player on board four, Anatoly Levin, managed a sweep. Executive board member Ruth Haring, who came from California to serve on USCF’s team, achieved the best score as an alternate. (A complete list of all the many prize winners, supplied by the organizing team, follows at the end of this article.)

It’s worth repeating that the nearly 1,200 players who attended this year’s World Amateur Team Championship weren’t in it for the money. There is never a cash prize fund at this event. It’s chess for honor and chess for fun. And there are plenty of both.

The honors are remarkably hard-earned, but it’s easy to have fun. Chief Organizer Steve Doyle is always two parts deft administrator, two parts impresario and one part game show host as he emcees the selection of special prizes and gives away special “door prizes.” In fact, this year he gave away $10,000 worth of prizes, donated by chess-book-publisher Russell Enterprises, the Rochester Chess Center, and Chess for Less. “Here’s a great book for the first who comes to the podium with a gold USCF membership card!” Steve booms. “Who’s wearing red sox?—here’s a great chess bag for you!” (This last challenge was won on the basis of creativity by a player wearing a Red Sox jacket. Chess players must be resourceful.)

The organizing and directing staff (see photo below) of the World Amateur Team Championship create an annual event that makes players want to come back year after year. So if you haven’t tried “The Team,” put it on your chess bucket list. Odds are, you’ll become a regular too.